re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette

Good. I go to the BR location a lot. Sometimes just a cocktail at the bar on the way in, maybe a pizza and a glass of wine or maybe I blow it out with three or four bottles and the dry aged ribeye. Plenty of ways and price points to enjoy it. Take your pick. It's a great atmosphere and they run a good shop. I hope Lafayette will support it.

re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette(Posted by CP3LSU25 on 5/21/13 at 10:36 pm to CourseyCorridor)

quote:Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette I'll say this: I like Ruffino's, but there are some in BR that give it a little too much credit. That said, it will do well in Lafayette. But to say it will be the best restaurant there doesn't recognize something that to me is obvious: As a food city, Lafayette is head and shoulders better than Baton Rouge.

re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette(Posted by Politiceaux on 5/21/13 at 10:48 pm to bdevill)

Ruffinos is known for steaks and seafood more than pasta these days. They have a lot of great non-Italian appetizers and entrees. I'm not sure why that's so controversial with you. Mr. Johns Ristorante has the best steaks in New Orleans. I doubt they find that insulting.

I'm not saying they have bad Italian food, for what it's worth. It's certainly miles ahead of carrabas, wherever that asinine comparison came from.

Again, how many items have you had from Ruffinos if saying they serve great steaks and fish is "insulting, if not moronic"?

re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette(Posted by CourseyCorridor on 5/22/13 at 1:16 am to cbtullis)

Italian at Ruffino's is average at best at the price point. Well behind Gino's and Nino's in the BR market, IMO. The Carrabba's comparison (may have butchered that spelling) really isn't that far off.

Steaks and specialty dishes are what they do best. Their fish specials are usually good. They really should just blow up their menu and redefine themselves as simply a Louisiana restaurant and leave the Italian title to others.

That doesn't mean get rid of all your pasta dishes. Hell, all restaurants seem to have pasta dishes.

re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette(Posted by LSUAfro on 5/22/13 at 5:24 am to CourseyCorridor)

quote:Italian at Ruffino's is average at best at the price point. Well behind Gino's and Nino's in the BR market, IMO. The Carrabba's comparison (may have butchered that spelling) really isn't that far off.

So...you want to take the best items off the menu, and then say its not far off from a mediocre chain. What?

re: Ruffino's on the River Grand opening tomorrow in Lafayette(Posted by Martini on 5/22/13 at 6:49 am to CourseyCorridor)

To say Ruffinos Italian is well behind Gino's is absurd. I've been to Gino's twice in the last month and it's a tired old menu with a wine list about as aggressive as Olive Garden. Not one thing on it has changed in the forty years I've been to it.

Ninos is very well done, nice wine selection and innovative menu. However it also only has about ten or so tables which makes it a lot easier for him to be fluid.

And to call Baton Rouge a black hole makes me realize how much you don't know. Just because you can't walk out of your door and into a fine dining establishment doesn't make it bad. Most newer cities are in the same boat. Houston, Dallas, Los Angelos. You think they don't drive to eat?